Green Circle Trail: Southern Loop

The circular route of the Green Circle Trail runs 27 miles. Avid cyclists may choose to ride the full distance. Other cyclists may enjoy breaking up the Green Circle Trail into two separate routes. The Heartland Trail, a spur trail cutting through Stevens Point, conveniently divides the Green Circle Trail into a northern and southern loop.

The southern loop of the Green Circle Trail offers beautiful scenery over its 12 miles. Caution is recommended in downtown Stevens Point and other urban areas. The route uses city streets and crosses at busy intersections. Cyclists are advised to wear fluorescent or bright clothes, and use headlights/taillights.

Outside urbans areas, the southern trail section travels through picturesque forests and meadows. Multiple stops along the route offer outstanding vistas of the Plover and Wisconsin Rivers. It is definitely worth stopping to enjoy the scenery and bird watch.

The stone-surfaced trail segments are often curvy, and include several hills. Several parks are found along the southern trail section. Pfiffner Pioneer Park in downtown Steven Point works best as a trailhead. Directly on the Wisconsin River, it has a large parking lot, restrooms, playground, bandshell, and boat launch. The park is home to the Cultural Commons International Friendship Garden and Riverfront Arts Center.

By car, Pfiffner Pioneer Park is accessed from Interstate Highway 39 by taking exit 158B and going west on Wisconsin State Highway 66 (Main Street) for 3.1 miles. The road eventually becomes CenterPoint Drive. Turn right (west) onto Cosby Avenue, and into one of the parking lots on either side of the street.

In Steven Point’s downtown, several establishments are within walking distance of Pfiffner Pioneer Park. PABS Cycling is close by, and offers on the spot service. Also near by is Sunset Point Winery, a local winery offering a diverse selection of wines made on-site. They offer wine slushies throughout the summer. A few short blocks away, Great Northern Distilling specializes in spirits crafted in a handmade copper still. They offer a small food menu.

Across the street from Sunset Point Winery, Mission Coffee House is located inside the Midstate Technical College building. To support the local community, they donate proceeds to area nonprofit organizations. Emy J’s Coffeehouse sits nearby, featuring house-roasted coffee and farm-to-table food that includes vegan fare. They also sell ice cream from Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream Company.

Just a block off the trail and a few blocks from Pfiffner Pioneer Park is Ruby Coffee Roasters Café. It has been voted the best local coffee shop in Portage County. The bustling café serves tasty coffee drinks, baked goods, and breakfast and lunch items.

Returning to the Green Circle Trail, the southern route begins in Pfiffner Pioneer Park on the paved Riverfront Trail. It journeys south, next to the Wisconsin River past several historical markers and a veterans memorial. Caution is needed to navigate the crosswalks on Wisconsin State Highway 66 (Clark Street).

The Green Circle Trail continues on the south side of the highway as the River Pines Trail. This paved section passes through Admiral Albert W. Grant Park. A historical marker there conveys his contributions during the Spanish-American War and World War I.

The route continues to Arlington Place, turns left (east), and then right (south) on Water Street. After 0.3 mile, the River Pines Trail turns right (west) on Wisconsin Street. Trail signs indicate this is the route of the Green Circle Trail. However, cyclists should continue south on Water Street following signs for the Heartland Trail. This path bisects Steven Point and connects to the Green Circle Trail on the city’s east side.

The bike route on Water Street is 0.9 miles long. Trail-goers may divert from the route for soft serve ice cream may turn left (east) on Park Street and bike three blocks. Carl D’s Soft Serve and Gourmet Popcorn is located at the corner of Park and Church Streets. And one block north on Church Street is Belt’s Soft Serve. Both promise a refreshing soft serve treat.

Returning to Water Street, caution is required when crossing the railroad tracks. Then the route passes directly by Stevens Point Brewing Company. This brewery offers tours, and tastings of their many brews in a new taproom. The historic brewery dates to 1857, making it one of the oldest independently owned and continuously operating breweries in America.

Back on the Water Street bike route, signs direct cyclists to the Heartland Trail by turning left (east) on Matilda Street and crossing Business U.S. Highway 51 (Church Street). This intersection has a crosswalk, but no pedestrian lights or stoplights. Extreme caution is needed at the busy crossing. At the end of Matilda Street, the route turns left (north) onto Warner Street, which ends after one block.

The route then turns right (east) and travels in a bike lane on Patch Street. After 0.3 mile, at the junction with Michigan Avenue, the paved Heartland Trail begins on the north side of Patch Street. It travels west 2.6 miles to the Portage County Business Park trail system on the east side of Interstate Highway 39.

The Hoover Avenue Trail is another spur trail that intersects Heartland Trail. This trail journeys south 4.5 miles next to Hoover Avenue, toward the Village of Plover. The paved trail connects to the start of the Tomorrow River State Trail and ends at Lake Pacawa Park, which has a swimming beach, splash pad,  playground, and additional facilities.

Back on the Heartland Trail, cyclists travel 1.1 miles west before crossing to the south side of Patch Street. This intersection occurs just past the bridge over the Plover River. 175 yards further, cyclists leave the Heartland Trail by turning right (south) onto the McDill Trail in Plover River Park. This small park is mainly a green space with trails and no facilities.

McDill Trail journeys 1.4 miles south to McDill Avenue. This trail travels on crushed granite stone and paved city streets. While difficult to see through the forest, it passes the 260-acre McDill Pond in Plover River Park. The pond was created in 1852, when the Plover River was dammed to power a sawmill. The McDill Trail traverses a few small hills in the park, before leaving Stevens Point and entering the Village of Whiting.

Signs at McDill Avenue mark the end of McDill Trail and start of Whiting Crossing Trail. This trail segment is 2.1 miles, traveling on crushed granite stone and paved roads. After crossing McDill Avenue, it cuts  through Mainland Meadows, a green space with a series of hiking trails. Cyclists may take a short connector trail to bypass the green space, or use the longer Mainland Meadows Loop. Another spur trail leads east to Hoover Avenue Trail.

In Mainland Meadows, Whiting Crossing Trail passes small open meadows and through pine forests. It’s an attractive setting for biking. The path emerges onto Elm Street and heads west for several blocks. Self-employed flashing lights help trail-goers cross Business U.S. Highway 51 (Post Road). The stone-surfaced trail continues through Upper Whiting Park.

This park is perched on a forested ridge high above the Plover River. A picnic area and benches are located along the trail. The path through the park is a perfect place to look for osprey and bald eagles, who sometimes perch on tall white pines overlooking the river. Upper Whiting Park is home to ten ancient native American mounds. Six of the mounds were discovered fairly recently, during a survey by UW-Stevens Point in 2000.

The bike route turns right (north) at the junction of Whiting Crossing Trail and Paper Mill Trail. Continuing through Whiting, the trail travels 1.5 miles through forests and open land next to the Plover and Wisconsin Rivers. The Paper Mill Trail passes over Plover River on an arched bridge, where an osprey nest sits on a high pole. Part of the trail journeys through the historic site of George Whiting’s mill, which opened in 1891 and operated for 120 years.

Cyclists should expect a few steep hills on Paper Mill Trail. The path also crosses railroad tracks. Three connector paths link to the main trail. Two lead to nearby roads. A third, the Schrader Connection Trail, runs north 1.7 miles along a former Canadian National Railway line to River Pines Trail, the next segment of the Green Circle Trail. Taking this crushed granite path shortens the overall ride.

Along the main route, Paper Mill Trail ends at Sherman Avenue. A parking lot there may serve as a trailhead. The 3.7-mile River Pines Trail begins on the north side of the road. The trail meanders along the Wisconsin River, passing through tall white pines and oak trees. This is one of the most scenic sections of the Green Circle Trail with views of the flowing river and nearby wetlands. Scenic overlooks have park benches, and parts of the trail pass on boardwalks over delicate wetlands.

Along River Pines Trail, the route leaves Whiting and re-enters Stevens Point. At County Highway HH (River View Avenue), the trail dips under the road next to a small arm of the Wisconsin River. Here trail-goers have a choice.

One option is continuing north on the east side of the Wisconsin River to Pfiffner Pioneer Park. This route continues on River Pines Trail for 2 miles. The stone-surfaced path ends at Mason Street by Stevens Point Dog Park. A parking lot there may serve as a trailhead.

The River Pines Trail then moves onto city streets, following Mason Street and Wood Avenue through an industrial area. The bike route crosses railroad tracks on Wood Avenue, then turns right (east) on Wisconsin Street. After one block, it turns left (north) onto Water Street and back to Pfiffner Pioneer Park.

The other trail option follows the 2.4-mile Westside Loop. It run next to the highway west over the Wisconsin River. A trailhead parking lot is on the south side of the highway near the river. The Westside Loop turns right (north) onto a stone-surfaced trail, and travels through forests and along a power line corridor for 1.4 miles. It briefly continues on River Drive. After a railroad crossing, the trail branches off and moves next to the Wisconsin River.

This last section toward the Wisconsin State Highway 66 (Clark Street) bridge offers a splendid view of Wisconsin River and downtown Stevens Point. The vista continues as the route journeys east across the bridge. On the east side of the river, the route intersects the state highway via crosswalks and arrives back at Pfiffner Pioneer Park.

^{Map of trailheads and addresses along this section of the trail.}

The Green Circle Trail’s southern loop follows seven of twelve paths and one spur trail. The route offers unique scenery and local attractions. Trail-goers see various neighborhoods, businesses and parks, as well as outstanding natural landscapes. Overall, the Green Circle Trail provides a special way to experience this central Wisconsin community.

Trail last ridden and documented in August, 2025.